Ash receiver



Feb. 2, 1937. Y CIE, BERG 2,069,400

ASH RECEIVER Filed Sept'. 27. 1932 Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNETED STATESPATENT @FFME 8 Claims.

This invention is a device for temporarily storing ashes dropped fromburning cigars and cigarettes until they may be conveniently disposed ofin a permanent way.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an ash tray with anelevated grid-like portion through which ashes may freely drop, saidgrid-like portion being associated with buttaprons for supportingpartially consumed cigars and cigarettes, said grid-like portion beingso disposed that ashes falling from lighted cigars or cigarettes restingupon said butt-aprons will fall through to a tray or other receptacledisposed beneath it. A further object is to provide an ash tray withsimple and effective means for snuflingv A further object the burningends of cigarettes. is to provide a box-like receptacle for ashes, and atray member slidably engaging the receptacle and forming a closuretherefor, the parts being so constructed and arranged as to permit readyremoval of ashes, etc., which may accumulate within the receptacle. Afurther object is to provide an ash receiver of the general characterabove described, constructed in the form of a simple metal stamping, andmeans at one end of the receptacle for retaining a match strip.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating an ash tray constructed inaccordance with the invention. Figure 2 is a top plan View. Figure 3 isan end view. Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line 4 4, Figure 2.Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the receptacle illustrating theguides. Figure 6 is a detail sectional View illustrating the snuier.Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing, R designates a boxlike receptacle which may beof any desired shape or contour. For purposes of illustration it isVshown as constructed of sheet metal, preferably in the form of a metalstamping. It is obvious, however, that it may be made by die-castingmolding, or in any other well known manner. Said receptacle comprises abottom wall provided with integral side walls lll, and end walls l! andI2, the end walls being parallel and vertically inclined as shown. Theend Wall l2 may be provided with an integral extension i3. The end wallIl has its side edges provided with longitudinal flanges M which arebent back so as to overlap the adjacent ends of the sides M. The endwall l2 is provided with similar anges i5 (Cl. 13l-5l) bent over toengage adjacent portions of the sides I0, all as clearly shown in thedrawing. The extension I3 if employed is bent downwardly and backagainst the outer surface of end wall I2, and its side edges areprovided with longitudinal anges l5, bent toward each other to provideguides for the reception of the usual cardboard cover of a common typeof match strip now in general use. Obviously, however, the matchholderfeature may be omitted without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

It will be noted that the ilanges iii and l5 rmly embrace the sides lilso as to provide a rigid box-like structure, adapted to receive andstore ashes and other dbris until the same may be permanently disposedof. The end edges of the side walls are spaced a slight distance fromthe adjacent end walls so as to provide vertically inclined parallelguideways l'l, and the top edges of said side walls have inwardly bentabutment portions i8, all as clearly shown in the drawing.

C designates a tray member, which for purposes of illustration is shownas a closure for the receptacle R. Said closure is preferably formed ofa sheet metal stamping provided with side walls 2l! which fit within thereceptacle R, said end Walls being joined by a top wall T. The end edgesof said' side walls 2li are bent laterally, as indicated at 2l, to enterthe guides il, so as to permit a slidable movement of the member C withrespect to the receptacle R. The said slidable movement is limited inthe separating direction by abutment anges 22 complemental to theflanges I8 of the receptacle R. It will be noted that the end walls liand l2 extend a considerable distance above the top edges oi the sidewalls lil, so that while the tray member C is in closed position, thebutt-aprons 24, hereinafter referred to, rest upon the top edges of saidend Walls. With the parts in maximum separated relation it will beobserved that the open spaces between the ends of the sides 2i?, of theclosure member C provide ample clearance for emptying the receptacle Rof its contents.

The top wall T of closure member C is provided with a grid-like portion23, and overhanging butt-aprons 2li, the parts being so constructed andarranged that the grid portion is in a lower plane than the butt-aprons2li, and the top edges of the sides 2KB. Centrally located in the gridportion 23 is a snuffer, comprising a depending sleeve-like guide Q5,the lower end of which is normally closed by a movably supported snuffelplate 2li. It is preferred to pivotally mount said snuifer plate 26 onthe lower end of the sleeve 25, as indicated at 21, and to keep the samein normally closed position over the lower open end of the sleeve 25 insuitable manner. For purposes of illustration, the snuier 26 is providedwith an extension 28 provided with a counterweight 29, for maintainingthe snuffer plate in its closed position. It will be observed that thesnuifer plate 26 normally closes the lower end of the sleeve 25 in suchmanner as to approximately prevent entrance of any air into the lowerend of the sleeve. Therefore, if a lighted cigarette is placed in thesleeve with the lighted end downward, the light is quickly extinguishedbecause of lack of the necessary air to support combustion.

In practice, the members R and C in their assembled relation asillustrated in the drawing, are placed in any suitable position withinconvenient reach of a smoker or group of smokers. The cigar or cigarettebutts during the smoking period may be rested from time to time upon thebutt aprons 24, with the lighted ends over the grid 23, so that anyashes which may fall therefrom will drop conveniently into thereceptacle R. Also if it is desired to clean the ashes from thecigarettes or cigars, it is only necessary to lightly scrape the lightedor burned end over the grid 23 which will remove the excess ash, andpermit it to drop into the receptacle.

It is well known that cigarettes very often continue to burn after thesmoker is through with them, and therefore constitute a serious iirehazard. To reduce this hazard ready and positive extinguishment of aburning cigarette may be easily accomplished by inserting the lightedend into the sleeve 25, and pushing the cigarette end rmly against thesnuffer 26, and leaving the cigarette in that position. In this way, thecigarette is supported in a vertical position with the lighted enddownward so that if the light is not completely extinguished the asheswill rest upon the snufier and if they drop at all, will drop into thereceptacle. However, there being little or no air available to supportcombustion, the cigarette will soon be extinguished and may remainwithin the sleeve 25 until another cigarette is to be extinguished, orit may be pushed directly through into the receptacle.

When it is desired to empty the receptacle, it is only necessary tograsp the sides of the closure member and lift the same, therebyseparating the closure and the receptacle to the limit permitted by theabutments i8 and 22, whereupon by tilting the receptacle toward one end,the ashes and other debris will readily drop out through the open endspace between the sides 2i), after which the receptacle may be placedupon a table or other support and the weight of the closure will causeit to slide downwardly to collapsed position.

For convenience, a strip of matches, such as the ordinary paper coveredmatch strip now in general use may be inserted between the guides I6, soas to be readily accessible.

The advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated by thoseskilled in the art to which it belongs. For instance, it will beparticularly noted that an exceedingly simple and inexpensive smokelessash receiver structure is provided, in which the burning cigars orcigarettes are supported with their lighted ends slightly lower thantheir other ends, and so positioned over a grid that any ashes fallingtherefrom will drop into a receptacle, in which they may be safelyretained until other and permanent disposition may be made of them.Another advantage is that the iire hazard is greatly reduced becausepartially smoked lighted cigarettes will be automatically extinguishedif deposited upon the tray member and afterwards forgotten, because theywill not burn beyond the outer edge of the wide moat dened by the frontedge of a butt apron. A further advantage is that a very simple andeffective means is provided for snufling the burning ends of cigarettes,so as to positively and definitely prevent danger of fire by reason ofthe failure to completely extinguish the light. A further advantage isthat the parts may be made of metal stampings and readily and quicklyfabricated, in such manner as to provide an exceedingly strong anddurable device, having means not only for the supporting of burningcigars and cigarettes and for the safe temporary storage of ashes andburning portions, but also having means for conveniently supportingmatches Where they are readily accessible.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described anoperative manner 0f constructing and using the same, although withoutattempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or allof the forms of its use, what is claimed is:-

l. In an ash receiver, a box-like receptacle formed with end and sidewalls, said end walls having longitudinal flanges bent back upon andengaging the side walls, one of said end walls having an extension bentback upon and lying atly against it, the longitudinal edges of saidextension having bent over guide anges t0 receive the cover of a matchstrip.

2. An ash receiver of the character described compriisng an ashreceptacle of approximately rectangular cross section and havingvertically inclined parallel guides therein, a closure member for saidreceptacle, said closure member having a grid-like portion extendedacross the top of the receptacle and so constructed as to rest thereon,said closure member also having portions depending from said grid-likeportion and having telescopic slidable engagement with said receptacle,said depending portions having complemental means engaging said guides,and means for limiting separating slidable movement of said closuremember and said receptacle.

3. An ash receiver of the character described comprising an ashreceptacle having vertically inclined grooves in the sides thereof, aclosure member for said receptacle, said closure member having agrid-like portion extended across the top of the receptacle and soconstructed as to rest thereon, said closure member being provided withvertically inclined depending portions having telescopic slidableengagement with said receptacle, said depending portions havinglaterally extended portions complemental to and engaging said grooves,and means for limiting separating movement of said closure member andsaid receptacle.

4. An ash receiver of the character described comprising a box-likereceptacle having end walls and side Walls, said end Walls havingmembers overlapping and engaging the side walls, the end edges of theside walls being spaced from the end Walls to provide grooves, and aclosure member extended across the top of said receptacle and soconstructed as to rest upon the end walls thereof, said closure memberhaving depending side walls telescoping Within the receptacle andprovided with bent edges slidably engaging said grooves.

5. In an ash receiver, a box-like receptacle having side walls and endwalls, one of said end walls having its side edges provided withlongitudinal anges which are bent into overlapping engagement with saidside walls, said last-mentioned end wall having one end bent downwardlyand back upon itself in such manner as to lie over the outer surfacethereof, the side edges of said extension having inwardly bent-overportions arranged in such manner as to provide opposite guidesconstructed and arranged to receive the cover of a match strip.

6. An ash receiver of the character described, comprising an ashreceptacle of approximately rectangular cross section having upstandingside walls and inclined approximately parallel end walls, said end Wallsextending to a plane above the top edges of the side walls, saidreceptacle having internal guides in the corners thereof arrangedparallel with said end walls, and the top edges of said side walls beingprovided with stops, a closure member having depending portions slidablyengaging said guides, said depending portions being surmounted by agrid-like portion so positioned as to extend across the top of thereceptacle while in closed position, said depending portions also havingstops complemental to the first-mentioned stops, the respective stopsbeing so positioned as to limit separating movement of the closuremember and the receptacle.

7. An ash receiver of the character described, comprising an ashreceptacle of approximately rectangular cross section having upstandingside Walls and inclined approximately parallel end walls, said end wallsextending to a plane above the top edges of the side walls, saidreceptacle having internal guides in the corners thereof arrangedparallel with said end walls, the top edges of said side Walls beingprovided with stops, a closure member having depending portions engagingsaid guides, said depending portions being surmounted by a grid-likeportion so positioned as to extend across the top of the receptacle andrest upon the top edges of said end Walls while in closed position, andmeans carried by the depending portions so positioned as to engage saidstops during relative separating movement of the closure member andreceptacle.

8. An ash receiver of the character described, comprising an ashreceptacle of approximately rectangular form having side and end walls,the end walls being higher than the side walls', said receptacle beingprovided with internal guides, a closure for said receptacle havingmeans for slidably engaging the guides so that the closure may slidewith respect to the receptacle and be normally supported by the endWalls while in closed position, said closure having butt-receiving meansincluding a grid-like portion, means for limiting sliding movement ofthe closure in one direction, an open-ended tube depending from saidgrid-like portion, a movably supported closure plate for the lower endof said tube, and means for yieldably holding said closure plate inclosed position against said tube, said yieldably holding means beingcapable of sustaining the weight of a cigarette located within saidtube, said closure plate and said tube being so constructed and arrangedas to approximately prevent entrance of atmospheric air into the lowerend of the tube in such manner as to extinguish the lighted end of acigarette projected axially downward into the tube.

CHARLES E. BERG.

